Police crack down on seatbelt violators

Published: Monday, May 18, 2009 at 3:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 18, 2009 at 3:16 p.m.

Sheriff Rick Davis announced today the launch of “Click It or Ticket” to crack down on motorists who are not wearing their seat belts.

In 2008, 484 unbuckled motorists died in North Carolina, according to Henderson County Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Charlie McDonald.

In an effort to combat this issue, the Henderson County Sheriffs’ Office is joining state and local law enforcement agencies in supporting an aggressive state-wide “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign from May 18 through May 31, McDonald said.

"Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes," Davis said. "When worn correctly, seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans."

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that North Carolina’s seat belt usage rate was 89.8 percent, its highest rate ever. The state’s usage rate was 65 percent when “Click It or Ticket” started 16 years ago.

<p>Sheriff Rick Davis announced today the launch of Click It or Ticket to crack down on motorists who are not wearing their seat belts.</p><p>In 2008, 484 unbuckled motorists died in North Carolina, according to Henderson County Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Charlie McDonald. </p><p>In an effort to combat this issue, the Henderson County Sheriffs’ Office is joining state and local law enforcement agencies in supporting an aggressive state-wide Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign from May 18 through May 31, McDonald said. </p><p>"Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes," Davis said. "When worn correctly, seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans."</p><p>In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that North Carolina’s seat belt usage rate was 89.8 percent, its highest rate ever. The state’s usage rate was 65 percent when Click It or Ticket started 16 years ago.</p>